In South Korea, office of the president rejects amendment proposal to modify constitutional preamble

The presidential office on [18 May] rejected opposition leader Lee Jae-myung's proposal for a "one-point" constitutional amendment to include the spirit of the 1980 Gwangju uprising in the preamble of the Constitution. The leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) proposed [on 17 May] rival parties work together to carry out the revision, which was one of President Yoon Suk Yeol's campaign promises, in time for next year's parliamentary elections. A presidential official expressed its disapproval, saying the proposal "disrespects the spirit" of the pro-democracy uprising and appears to be merely a tactic to divert public attention from corruption scandals engulfing the main opposition party. "This one-point constitutional amendment proposal is nothing more than a ploy by politicians tainted by corruption to turn the political landscape around," the official said. He assured President Yoon remains committed to fulfilling his promise of incorporating the spirit of the May 18, 1980, pro-democracy movement into the Constitution. But it would be done through a national consensus and the proper procedures required for a constitutional amendment, he said.
Read the full article here: The Korea Times